Chandigarh: Challans issued to 86 for drunk driving

The driving licences of all the 86 challaned people were seized and submitted in the court of chief judicial magistrate for further action. (Representational)

As many as 86 people were issued challans for drunk driving during a two-hour drive in the city on Wednesday night.  Nakas were laid down at 13 different locations in the four traffic zones of Chandigarh — central zone, east zone, south zone and south west zone. The nakas were laid under the close supervision of traffic marshals, who monitored the challan proceedings.

Police sources said since the removal of ban on serving liquor adjoining the highways in Chandigarh, it is for the first time when people were challaned in such a large number. In Chandigarh, bars, restaurants, clubs and discos situated adjoining the highways started serving liquor in the first week of September.

The driving licences of all the 86 challaned people were seized and submitted in the court of chief judicial magistrate for further action. Sources said the court is likely to suspend the driving licences of all of the challaned persons for next six months.

According to traffic police record, 4,745 people have been challaned in the past nine months in Chandigarh. As per the Section 185 of Motor Vehicle (MV) Act, 1988, a challaned person for drunk driving shall be punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.

Further as per Sector 20 (2) of Motor Vehicle Act 1988, the driving license of the challaned person shall be disqualified for a period of not less than six months.  And under Section 22(2) of MV Act, 1988, if a person having been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 185 is again convicted of an offence punishable under that section, the Court, making such subsequent conviction, shall, by order, cancel the driving licence held by such person.